CURIUS: Redesigning the Beverage Industry

Lebanon-based International Factory for Food and Beverages (IFFB) is reshaping the beverage industry by offering premium co-packing services for energy drinks, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages. Founded in 2021, IFFB has rapidly become a key regional player, focusing on high-quality production, innovation, and operational efficiency. Led by Peter Abi Ramia and Mikel Abi Ramia, the company produces 24,000 cans per hour. “We saw a global shortage of carbonated beverages in cans and recognized an opportunity,” Peter noted. “Our vision is to provide flexible co-packing solutions with shorter lead times to meet market demands.” This proactive strategy is fueling IFFB’s swift growth. The Significance Behind the IFFB Name International Factory for Food and Beverages (IFFB) reflects the company’s ambitions. Peter explained, “The name embodies our core beverage production business and our future expansion into food, targeting international markets.”With aspirations to break into European and African markets, IFFB aims to become a dominant player in the beverage industry, all while diversifying its product portfolio. Meeting Market Needs with Innovative Expertise IFFB’s product lineup spans energy drinks, RTD vodka mixes, non-alcoholic beers, carbonated beverages, and iced teas. Their cutting-edge facilities ensure that every batch meets the highest standards, offering consumers great taste and functionality.”Our target audience includes anyone who enjoys carbonated beverages,” Peter noted. “What differentiates us is our adaptability. We quickly respond to market demands, and our shorter lead times provide a competitive edge.”Their adaptability is proving successful. IFFB’s monthly sales continue to increase, “We haven’t lost a single customer,” added Mikel. “Our commitment to quality and efficiency keeps clients returning.” Overcoming Scaling Challenges IFFB’s rapid expansion does not come without challenges. “Scaling a co-packing company requires careful coordination, especially in managing raw materials and ensuring that production maintains high standards,” Peter admitted. One of their key obstacles is maintaining operational efficiency during rapid growth. To meet these demands, they are heavily investing in technology and refining processes. “We’re continuously innovating, from product development to production operations,” Mikel emphasized. This constant innovation helps them stay competitive in a fast-evolving market. Expanding Through SIAL Startup Village A major part of IFFB’s growth strategy includes participation in SIAL Startup Village, a prominent event for food and beverage startups. Peter shared, “We want to expand into the EU and Africa, and SIAL offers valuable exposure to potential clients and partners.” Through this platform, IFFB hopes to secure new sales leads and build connections that will help drive international expansion. The Outsourcing Trend in Beverage Production With beverage production becoming increasingly complex, outsourcing to specialized co-packers like IFFB has become increasingly popular. The global co-packing market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.3% from 2021 to 2026, driven by companies seeking to lower production costs and enhance efficiency. Co-packing companies leverage this trend by providing flexible solutions that help businesses reduce expenses while upholding high-quality standards. Their adherence to international safety certifications, including FSSC 22000, Halal, ISO 22000, and HACCP, further strengthen their position as trusted co-packing partners. Future Outlook Looking ahead, IFFB is focused on expanding its customer base and product offerings while remaining committed to quality and innovation. Peter said, “Our vision is to continuously grow and offer new, exciting products for local and international markets while maintaining our commitment to excellence in taste and operational efficiency.”With its advanced facilities, skilled team, and ambition to lead in beverage co-packing, IFFB is poised to become a global leader in the industry.

Retail Robotics Solutions (RRS) is advancing rapidly with its innovative AI technology in corporate catering and self-service restaurants. Founded in 2022, the company quickly became a leader in integrating computer vision and Robot-Cashier systems. We caught up with CEO Dimitri Rodin and Head of Customer Satisfaction Ilya Zelikin  to dive into their work, ambitious plans for the future, and how outsourcing plays a key role in scaling the business. A Visionary Beginning Dimitri Rodin, with over 20 years of executive experience, co-founded RRS after meeting with an angel investor and a computer scientist. Their talks on computer vision and Robot-Cashier technology sparked an idea: “To revolutionize the way people experience dining in cafeterias and self-service restaurants by making it as easy as taking a selfie.” This principle has guided RRS’s journey. The Technology Behind the Innovation RRS employs advanced equally AI and Robot-Cashier solutions to streamline food service, reduce queues, lower costs, and enhance customer satisfaction. Rodin highlights their edge in brief: “We’ve become the global leader in recognition accuracy for freshly-made food.” Furthermore he adds that their technology excels at identifying overlapping food items, a challenge for many competitors. Zelikin explains, “With three successful pilots and a €2.4 million contract, we’ve proven our solution delivers results from day one.” This success shows strong demand and sets the stage for future growth. Targeting the Corporate Catering Sector RRS primarily focuses on large corporations in the corporate catering sector, including major players such as Elior, Sodexo, and Compass Group. Additionally, their expertise allows them to cater specifically to the needs of these industry leaders. Their in-depth understanding of client needs helps them to implement solutions seamlessly, including integrating Robot-Cashier systems, without disrupting existing workflows. Zelikin also highlights, “After two years of negotiations with target clients, we know how to implement our solution effectively.” Scaling Operations and Outsourcing As RRS expands its presence across Europe and prepares to enter the U.S. market, outsourcing plays a vital role in its strategy. Industry statistics indicate that 59% of companies generally utilize outsourcing to improve operational efficiency. The company plans to partner with software and hardware companies, including also those in Robot-Cashier tech, to drive growth. Dimitri highlights its strong track record with top stakeholders. Its diverse team from 11 countries helps it navigate complex markets and build key partnerships. Future Goals and Ambitions For 2024, RRS aims emphatically to boost revenue and expand AI-based terminals and Robot-Cashier systems with Pingo Doce in Portugal. Rodin also adds, “Our goal in the U.S. is to start Proof of Concepts with key players in self-service restaurants and corporate catering.” With a U.S. office opening in fall 2024, RRS is certainly ready to impact the FoodTech industry. They aim to be recognized at SIAL Startup Village, considering it a crucial opportunity to attract investors and industry leaders. The Drive for Change What motivates Rodin and Zelikin? Rodin reveals, “I wake up every morning with a clear understanding that we are changing the business practices of the entire global food service industry.” This conviction fuels their ambition to radically enhance customer satisfaction, saving office managers valuable time that would otherwise be spent in lines.

As the world looks for sustainable alternatives to conventional protein sources, startups like Planetary, based in Switzerland, are paving the way for a greener and healthier food system. Founded in 2022 by Marison Ian and David Brandes, the company is a venture-backed food tech company that aims to power the economy by building industrial-scale infrastructure globally. Their core innovation lies in precision fermentation, and they’re set to make a significant mark on the global protein supply with their versatile mycoprotein product.”We’re building the bioeconomy together,” reads Planetary’s tagline. This vision aligns with the growing demand for sustainable, plant-based, and microbial proteins in a world that is grappling with the challenges of climate change and resource scarcity. Precision Fermentation: Scaling for Global Impact Planetary’s focus on precision fermentation is no accident. This method allows for the production of high-quality proteins without the environmental downsides of traditional animal agriculture. According to a recent study by the Good Food Institute, precision fermentation can reduce land use by up to 99% and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 87% compared to conventional meat production.”Our goal is to provide food producers with a sustainable, healthy, and versatile ingredient in the form of mycoprotein,” said one of the co-founders during the interview. The company is already building its first facility in Switzerland, set to begin operations at the end of 2024. This facility will serve as a cornerstone in Planetary’s mission to contribute to diversifying the global protein supply. A Team of Experts Driving Innovation Planetary’s small but highly specialized team of 10 employees works in Switzerland and remotely, bringing together expertise in bioprocessing, engineering, product development, and business. Their multidisciplinary approach has helped the company scale rapidly despite being in the early stages of development.”We’ve built a team of experts in bioprocessing, engineering, product development, and business to create a winning combination,” the team shared. This focus on building a strong internal foundation is key to ensuring they meet their ambitious goals in the coming years. The Growing Bioeconomy: Opportunities and Challenges As a participant in SIAL Startup Village, Planetary aims to connect with industry leaders and generate new customer leads. “We’re looking to establish strong connections within the industry and secure new customers,” the commercial director, Eleanor McSweeney, said. They also hope to lead in building the bioeconomy, which the OECD predicts could reach a global market size of $2 trillion by 2030. However, like any ambitious startup, Planetary faces its own challenges. “What keeps us awake at night is the rapid scaling required to meet market demand while maintaining high quality and sustainability standards,” admitted the team. But they remain driven by the potential impact they can make. “The idea of building a better, more sustainable food system is what gets us up every morning,” they added. The Road Ahead for Planetary Looking forward to 2024, Planetary’s primary goal is to get its first factory up and running. The company plans to expand its team, particularly as it scales its operations and production capacity. “We’ll likely be hiring at the end of this year to support our growth,” McSweeney noted. Their entry into the food-tech space comes at a pivotal moment when consumer demand for alternative proteins is at an all-time high. According to Euromonitor data, the global plant-based protein market is expected to grow at a 9.7% CAGR from 2021 to 2028. With such promising market trends and a clear roadmap, Planetary is well-positioned to make a lasting impact on both the food industry and the environment.” We believe that precision fermentation can revolutionize food production,” one of the co-founders emphasized. “And we’re excited to be part of that transformation.”